Searchers have recovered the body believed to be a Chinese crewman who fell overboard from a ship in the Port of Tauranga earlier today.

Police reports earlier indicated the crew member fell 10m from the ship into the harbour and did not resurface. The incident occurred at 9.21am this morning.

Searchers earlier today looking for the missing crew memeber. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

It is understood divers located the body about 12.20pm.

Bay of Plenty Police District Command Centre Senior Sergeant Karl Konlechner says a combined Police and Coastguard search was commenced soon after a call was made to emergency services.

Fortuitously, a New Zealand Navy ship was in port at the time and Navy divers have joined the search.

Worksafe New Zealand have been advised of the incident.

'This appears to be a tragic accident involving a Chinese deckhand from a ship berthed in the Port,” Karl says.

The Police are very grateful for the prompt response from the New Zealand Navy personnel who were in the port at the time and quickly joined the search.”

A reporter at the scene earlier says the search focused near the logging ship Mount Hikurangi on pier 9.

The ship which came from Bluff is schedule to leave the Port tomorrow morning at 12.30am.

An exclusion zone set up around the Port has now been lifted.

Read earlier story here.

Pacific Basin Shipping (HK) who are the operators of the Mount Hikurangi contacted SunLive and were wanting the following reported.

We regret the unfortunate fatal fall of a Chinese seafarer around 9:13 am (local time) while the ship was berthed at Tauranga, New Zealand. The deceased fell overboard between the pier and the ship while assisting the securing of the vessel's deck cargo of logs. Local authorities were notified at once and the Police and Navy conducted a search with divers and rescue boat in the area.

The body was retrieved and authorities declared him dead. We deeply regret this unfortunate incident and our thoughts are with his family. The company wishes to thank the local authorities for their immediate assistance and action and is cooperating with Maritime New Zealand's investigation into the accident.